CROWD AT NDOLA - NKOLOSO - PRESIDENT KAUNDA SPEAKS




Initials AK/S/JF/OS



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Background: BIG NEW PROJECTS TO EMPLOY THE OUT-OF-WORK AND TO PUSH ZAMBIA FORWARDS WERE ANNOUNCED BY PRESIDENT KAUNDA AT A MASS RALLY AT NDOLA ON SUNDAY. THE PRESIDENT CALLED ON ALL THE UNEMPLOYED TO FORM THEMSELVES INTO CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND PUT THEIR VARIOUS SKILLS TO WORK ON THE AGRICULTURAL AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS PLANNED.

A CROWD OF ABOUT 35,000 PEOPLE HEARD PRESIDENT KAUNDA SAY: "THE MONEY IS HERE, THE KNOW-HOW IS HERE. STEP FORWARD NOW - NEXT WEEK - AND HELP US WORK TOWARDS A COMMON GOAL." HE ADDED THAT GRANTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO WERE PREPARED TO "GO INTO BUSINESS" FOR THE COUNTRY.

CONTRACTORS WERE NEEDED ALL OVER ZAMBIA TO WORK ON THE BUILDING OF SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS. VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GROWERS WOULD BE GIVEN GBP2 MILLION TO SET UP A SERIES OF MARKET GARDENS ALONG THE COPPERBELT.

PRESIDENT KAUNDA ALSO LASHED OUT AGAINST CORRUPT OFFICIALS AND MEN IN KEY POSITIONS WHO ACCEPTED BRIBES. "ANYONE WHO DOES THAT WILL GO TO PRISON - ON MY ORDERS - WITHOUT GOING TO A COURT OF LAW."